Arsenal icon Wilshere has shared inside knowledge on "unbelievable" Declan Rice

29 June 2023 , 06:32

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Arsenal icon Wilshere has shared inside knowledge on "unbelievable" Declan Rice

Arsenal have agreed a £105million transfer fee with West Ham to sign England international Declan Rice - their No.1 transfer target.

Manchester City were seriously interested in signing Rice, 24, but it's Arsenal who appear to have won the transfer race. Talks are still ongoing between the two London clubs over the structure of the £105m deal, but a quick solution is expected.

One man who will be pleased to see Rice walk through the door at the Emirates is Jack Wilshere, his former team-mate at West Ham. Wilshere is now Arsenal's U18 manager and has given first-team boss Mikel Arteta the inside track on his newest recruit.

Rice kept Wilshere out of West Ham's starting XI during their time together at the London Stadium and it's no surprise the latter rates his former team-mate so highly. Wilshere backed Rice to "go all the way" in his career back in April 2020 having been left impressed with the Three Lions star both on and off the pitch.

Declan Rice is heading to Arsenal (Getty Images)

Wilshere, who played for West Ham between 2018 and 2020, made the claim during a Q&A on Instagram when he was asked to name his favourite young player in the Premier League. He replied: "You know what, there's so many good young players.

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"But the one that I get to see every day and I get to play with him, Dec. Declan Rice. He can go all the way, he’s unbelievable. Left foot, right foot and he’s a great lad. Love you, Dec!"

Jack Wilshere played alongside Rice at West Ham (Getty Images)

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Wilshere will be hoping Rice goes all the way with Arsenal. Rice's preferred destination is the Emirates because he wants to stay in London and play Champions League football, so personal terms and his medical are not expected to be an issue.

Rice's CV is impressive. The midfielder joined West Ham in 2014 after being released by boyhood club Chelsea aged 14 and has since played more than 200 Premier League games. He's been named West Ham's Hammer of the Year three times.

Rice's finest hour in a West Ham shirt came earlier this month when he captained David Moyes' side to a 2-1 victory against Italian giants Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final. That ended West Ham's 43-year wait for a major trophy.

At international level, Rice won three senior caps for the Republic of Ireland before changing his allegiance to England. He's since won another 43 senior caps and helped the Three Lions reach the final of the Euro 2020, where they lost on penalties to Italy.

Arsenal's need for a new central midfielder is obvious. Granit Xhaka is expected to join Bayer Leverkusen shortly, while Thomas Partey could also say goodbye to the Emirates. Juventus and clubs in Saudi Arabia are chasing the latter's signature.

Arsenal have already completed one signing this summer in Kai Havertz. The German, 24, has signed a long-term deal with the Gunners after they agreed a £65m fee with Chelsea. Havertz scored the winner in 2021 Champions League final against Man City.

Tom Blow